Apron having impermeable layer and removeable towel ring

ABSTRACT

An apron is disclosed that includes a garment configured to cover a portion of a user&#39;s body, the garment comprising a first outer layer formed of an absorbent material, a middle layer formed of an impermeable layer, and a back layer, and a towel ring connected to the first outer layer, wherein the towel ring is shaped to receive a towel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to kitchen aprons, and more particularly to fluid blocking and protecting aprons.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Household and kitchen aprons are well known in the art including aprons as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,129,486 that issued Sep. 6, 1938 to Berman. Aprons are intended to protect clothing from accidental splatters, food debris, and various fluids. Many apron users will dry their hands and fingers on apron surfaces during use. Known apron designs utilize cotton, an absorbent material. Cotton aprons absorb fluids and food splatter, protecting a user's clothing and protect a user's footwear by absorbing the fluid and food material before it falls unto the footwear. Cotton aprons protect clothing and user's garments until fluid and other food splatter permeates the apron to an underside.

Known aprons lack an impermeable layer under an outside surface having absorbent properties and a towel ring. Hence there is a need for an apron that includes an absorbent front-facing surface configured for food and fluid absorption and an underside or middle section that is impermeable to fluid and food debris that includes a ring one may drape a towel and a detachable strap for easy removal of a towel ring.

SUMMARY

An apron is disclosed that includes a garment configured to cover a portion of a user's body, the garment comprising a first outer layer formed of an absorbent material, a middle layer formed of an impermeable layer, and a back layer, and a towel ring connected to the first outer layer, wherein the towel ring is shaped to receive a towel.

Certain embodiments of the invention include a feature of a forward-facing detachable strap for easy removal of the towel ring.

This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an apron, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apron, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the apron, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4-7 are side views of the apron, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the apron taken along line A-A of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the apron taken along line B-B of FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged cross-sectional views, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a cutaway view of an embodiment of the apron having hidden pockets, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are further embodiments of the apron having a strapless top section, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary apron having a removable towel ring, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

FIGS. 1-11 illustrate an apron 10 having a towel ring 20. The towel ring 20 is intended to receive a towel that may be draped through the ring 20 for use by a user for added protection or convenience. The towel ring 20 is preferably secured to the apron 10 using a strap 21. The apron 10 is a garment that may form onto a user's body and is preferably sized and shaped to partially cover a user's body, as is known in the art of aprons. The apron 10 includes a body 12, waist straps 30, and, in some embodiments, neck straps 40. In some embodiments, the body 12 can include one or more pockets 22, which can be various sizes and shapes.

Referring to FIGS. 1-11, the body 12 can include one or more layers of a variety of flexible materials such as denim, canvas, oil cloth, cotton, nylon, vinyl, and the like. In one embodiment, each layer of material in body 12 can include one or more of these materials. In one embodiment, one or more of the layers may be formed of material having portions such as a laminate, composite, or coated material. FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged cross-sectional side views of an exemplary embodiment of the apron 10 showing three layers: a front layer 50 is formed of canvas or other absorbent material, a middle impermeable layer 52, and a back layer 54. The back layer is preferably formed of a comfortable material, but may be formed of any of the materials described above for the body 12. A pocket 22 forms an opening 23 shown in the exemplary FIGS. 10 and 11.

Various embodiments of the body 12 may be different sizes and shapes, such as a larger, approximately rectangular shape to accommodate an adult, or a smaller, substantially oblong shape. In some embodiments, the body 12 can include an upper section 14 and lower section 16.

The upper section 14 can be sized to cover, and in some embodiments, wrap at least partially around, the torso, or upper torso, of the user of the apron 10. The upper section 14 can include a top edge 13 and upper side edges 15. The upper side edges 15 can be substantially straight, or, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiment, concaved or tapered, to provide a better fit for the arms of a user, as is known. The top edge 13 can be curved, to conform to the shape of a user's neck, or it can be substantially straight, as shown in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1-3.

The upper section 14 can include a pair of straps 40 configured to adjustably hold apron 10 around a user's neck, such as by tying the straps 40 together. Straps 40 can be positioned along top edge 13 or an upper portion of upper side edges 15. One skilled in the art will understand that apron 10 can be held around a user's neck in many different ways, and can be adjustable to fit many different users. The straps 40 can include any of the materials described above for the body 12, or may include other known strap materials, such as rope, elastic, webbing material, and the like. In some embodiments, the straps 40 can be configured to adjustably hold the apron 10 around a user's neck with buckles, snaps, zippers, clasps, hook/loops, and any other mechanical fastening and adjustment device known in the art. In some embodiments, apron 10 can include a single, contiguous strap that forms a loop to hold apron 10 around a user's neck such as shown in an exemplary embodiment in FIG. 10. As shown in the figures, one of the straps 40 includes a D-shaped buckle 41. In various embodiments the buckle 41 may be absent.

The lower section 16 can be sized and shaped in any way to cover, and/or wrap at least partially around a lower portion of a user's body, e.g., a lower torso, a user's waist, and/or legs. The lower section 16 can include a bottom edge 17 and lower side edges 19 positioned between the bottom edge 17 and the upper side edges 15. The edges 17, 19 can be curved, or as shown in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, substantially straight. The lower section 16 can include straps 30 configured to hold apron 10 around a user's torso, such as by tying the straps 30 around the user's waist. The straps 30 can include any of the materials described above for the straps 40 and/or the body 12, and can function similarly to the manner thereof, to adjustably hold the lower section 16 to a lower portion of a user's body.

The upper section 14 and the lower section 16 can include any of the materials described above for body 12, and can include the same or different materials relative to each other. In some embodiments, one of the sections 14, 16 includes a material that absorbs fluid, whereas the other of sections 14, 16 includes a material that repels, or is resistant to absorbing fluid, i.e., impermeable. In some embodiments, the sections 14, 16 include a single integrated piece. In one embodiment, the sections 14, 16 can include a common edge 24.

In some embodiments, the lower section 16 can include pockets 22 such as shown in FIGS. 1-2. The pockets 22 can be integrated with lower section 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, or in some embodiments, integrated with upper section 14. The pockets 22 can include any of the materials described above for upper and/or lower sections 14, 16, and can include the same or different materials as upper and/or lower sections 14, 16.

In one embodiment, the pockets 22 may be hidden or concealed. As shown in FIG. 10 a partial cutaway view shows that the pockets 22 are beneath a first layer 50 and stitched on top of the middle layer 52. In one embodiment, the pockets 22 are stitched between the front layer 50 and the middle impermeable layer 52 or between the middle layer 52 and the back layer 54. The pockets are accessible through openings 60. In one embodiment, the upper section 14 is stitched to the middle and back layers 52 and 54 along a horizontal stitch line 62. The lower section 16 is intermittently stitched to the middle and back layers 52 and 54 so as to leave an opening in the fabric for accessing the pockets 62. As one skilled in the art will readily recognize, the pockets 22 may be formed of the middle layer 52 by stitching the middle layer 52 to the back layer 54 in a manner that forms pockets. In one embodiment, the pockets are formed of additional material.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are further embodiments of the apron 10 having a strapless top section. FIG. 13 shows the apron 10 having embedded magnets 70 for connection to moveable magnets 72. The embedded magnets 70 may be stitched or otherwise secured to the apron 10 and may be embedded between layers 50 and 52 or between layers 52 and 54. In use, a user may place magnets 72 within the apron 10 and outside for attachment thereto. FIG. 14 is a back view shows an embodiment of the apron 10 having pins 74 for piercing a user's shirt or garment for securement thereto. The pins 74 are preferably placed on the underside of the apron 10 showing a surface of the layer 54 toward a top end such as near the top edge 13. In this way, the apron 10 may be best secured to a user without folding over.

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary apron 10 having a strap 21 for a towel ring (not shown). FIG. 15 shows the strap 21 in an uncoupled state, i.e., unfolded and unengaging a towel ring such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The exemplary strap 21 includes a hook and look fastener 80 and 81. In one embodiment, the strap 21 includes a hook 82 which may be secured through a loop 84. A towel ring may be looped through the strap 21, which may then be secured by hooking the hook 82 through the loop 84 and engaging the portions of the hook and look fastener 80 and 81 together. In various additional embodiments, the strap may include one or more removable mechanical fasteners such as buttons, pins or snaps.

The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications thereto. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An apron comprising: a garment configured to cover a portion of a user's body, the garment comprising a first outer layer formed of an absorbent material, a middle layer formed of an impermeable layer, and a back layer; and a towel ring connected to the first outer layer, wherein the towel ring is shaped to receive a towel.
 2. The apron of claim 1, wherein the towel ring is removable.
 3. The apron of claim 2, further comprising a forward-facing strap configured to receive the towel ring, wherein the forward-facing strap includes a mechanical fastener configured to secure the forward-facing strap to the first outer layer.
 4. The apron of claim 3, wherein the forward-facing strap includes a hook and loop mechanical fastener.
 5. The apron of claim 3, wherein the forward-facing strap includes a hook.
 6. The apron of claim 3, wherein the forward-facing strap includes one of a button, a pin, and a snap.
 7. The apron of claim 1, further comprising: magnets embedded within the garment.
 8. The apron of claim 1, further comprising: pins attached to the back layer and configured to secure the garment to a user's shirt.
 9. The apron of claim 1, further comprising one or more pockets.
 10. The apron of claim 9, wherein the pockets are eye-slit pockets.
 11. The apron of claim 9, wherein the first outer layer is formed of an upper section and a lower section, wherein the lower section is partially stitched to the middle layer to form an opening into one or more pockets formed under the first layer.
 12. An apron comprising: a garment configured to cover a portion of a user's body, the garment comprising a first outer layer formed of an absorbent material, a middle layer formed of an impermeable layer, and a back layer; one or more pockets; a forward-facing strap having a mechanical fastener, wherein the forward-facing strap is terminated at a first end on the first outer layer and removably terminated at a second end on the first outer layer; and a towel ring connected to the first outer layer, wherein the towel ring is shaped to receive a towel.
 13. The apron of claim 12, wherein the forward-facing strap includes a mechanical fastener configured to removably secure the forward-facing strap to the first outer layer.
 14. The apron of claim 13, wherein the mechanical fastener is a hook and loop mechanical fastener.
 15. The apron of claim 13, wherein the mechanical fastener is one of a button, a pin, and a snap.
 16. The apron of claim 13, wherein the first outer layer includes a loop and wherein the forward-facing strap further includes a hook for selective engagement with the loop.
 17. The apron of claim 13, wherein the mechanical fastener is one of a button, a pin, a snap, a hook and loop mechanical fastener, and wherein the first outer layer includes a loop and wherein the forward-facing strap further includes a hook for selective engagement with the loop. 